CAREER ADVICE

Good, Healthy Eating 

In an age where health and nutrition are becoming a way of life for many Americans, it is no surprise that the employment of dietitians is expected to grow through the year 2010*.   Dietitians and nutritionists have a wide array of career paths to explore as a result of an increasing emphasis on prevention and improved health habits in our culture.   

Dietitians and nutritionists are known for planning food and nutrition programs.  They help prevent and treat illnesses by promoting healthy eating habits and suggesting diet modifications, such as less salt for those with high blood pressure.  They can also run food service systems for institutions such as hospitals and schools.  They promote sound eating habits through education and often work in research.  But this is just the surface of what this career choice offers. 

Britt McConnell was drawn to the field because of her love of food and nutrition. “Dietetics appealed to me because there are so many options for dietitians. Dietetics is not just about planning menus and talking about the basic food groups. There is so much more involved. Career options include hospital dietetics, foodservice management, teaching, writing books, consulting for nursing homes, sales, wellness, starting your own nutrition business, working in WIC (Women, Infants and Children) clinics and more.” 

Ms. McConnell is a perfect example of the many avenues one can take with a solid education in dietetics.  Currently she works for Mercy Hospital in Iowa City in the Diabetes Center.  “My position is part-time, so I also do consulting work for three facilities. I like variety in my work life, which is one of the factors that drew me to dietetics. I have also held jobs in public health and health promotion.” 

Post high school education is a must for those interested in dietetics and nutrition, but there are a variety of backgrounds you can come from. “I initially earned a degree from Iowa State University in community health education because I had an interest in the wellness field. There weren't a lot of wellness jobs available in Iowa, so I decided to go back to school. I worked at completing my dietetics classes part-time for a couple of years. After completing the educational requirements, dietitians must then pass a test to become registered. Once registered, dietitians can apply for their license to practice dietetics in Iowa. The licensing requirements vary by state.”  

Twenty-seven of the 41 states with laws governing dietetics require licensure, 13 require certification and one requires registration.  The Commission on Dietetic Registration of the American Dietetic Association (ADA) awards the Registered Dietitian credential to those who pass a certification exam after completing their academic coursework and supervised experience*. 

High school students interested in going into the dietetics field should take courses in science, health, mathematics and communications. “There is a lot of science, especially chemistry, in the dietetics program, so I recommend being prepared,” advises Ms. McConnell.  “Take all of the science courses you can in high school. It is never too late though. If you have graduated from high school already, you can still catch up. You may just have to study a little harder at the college level.”  

Ms. McConnell also suggests internships and job shadowing.  “An internship is typically a part of dietitian's training, but it is done after completing the college coursework. I think it is wise to investigate any area of interest before making a career choice. Dietetics is no different. Spend some time with a dietitian on the job if possible. Actually, it would be great to spend time with more than one. There are so many career options for dietitians. Spending time with someone in only one area (only in a hospital, only in foodservice, etc) doesn't really give a true representation of all that is available.  I would also recommend learning about dietetics in other ways. For example the American Dietetics Association has a wonderful website with information on becoming a dietitian (www.eatright.org). Another option is going to a local dietetics association meeting. It is an opportunity to meet a lot of dietitians, find out what we do and learn about some current topics of interest in the nutrition field.” 

Dietetics and nutrition can be a very rewarding field. “I get to talk about nutrition and help people live healthier lives. I definitely feel like I have helped a lot of people,” said Ms. McConnell.  “My patients typically come to me feeling very confused about what they can eat after being diagnosed with diabetes. It's nice to be able to lessen some of their fears.”

For more information on Dietetics visit the following links:

• www.eatright.org

• www.dietetics.com

• www.dietetics.iastate.edu

• and view information on the job outlook at the Bureau of Labor Statistics www.bls.gov/oco/ocos077.htm

*According to the U.S. Dept. of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistic, Occupation Outlook Handbook.

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